Fancy Lighting on a Budget

If you're looking to give your home a makeover on a budget, interior lighting is one easy way to spruce up the rooms of your home cheaply and uniquely. You can make your home look like it was designed by a professional by learning to incorporate the same three layers of light as real designers. Thought-out light placement will add sophistication and personality to a space.

Start out by deciding where your main source of illumination - or ambient lighting - will be for the room. This could be natural sunlight coming through a window as well as lamps, overhead lighting or wall fixtures. If you can spend a little more, you might want to add a splash of color with a chandelier or other suspended light fixture. If you are on more of a budget, look for stylish table or standing lamps at your local antique store or swap meet.

Next, designers turn their attention to task lighting. This is a way of illuminating specific areas for certain tasks. For example, you can make your space look more sleek by adding illumination under cabinets to light up a work space or adding a desk lamp to provide the extra level of illumination that ambient lighting alone can't properly provide for detail-oriented spaces. You can also use swing arm lamps, wall sconces and adjustable floor lamps to add task lighting to any room.

Accent lighting is used to focus the eye on architectural or decorative aspects of the room. Look around your home for wall niches or recessed areas where you can install a little colored illumination for effect. You could also se track lighting to focus attention on a painting or other interesting wall feature. Or simply change your light switches to dimmers so that you can add versatility to the existing or new lighting in your home. If you aren't looking to spend money on installation, you can add a different type of accent lighting by smattering candles on your surface tops and shelves to create an aura of romance and tantalizing aroma.

Next, you can add the effect of fancy lighting to your existing home lighting simply by adding or changing your light fixtures. These define the personality and style of your space. You can add light fixtures that enhance one room's elegance and in another room add lighting that creates a modern feel. Have fun with it and don't hold back!

Last, you can increase your savings while redesigning your home's interior lighting by choosing energy efficient light bulbs for your new lighting plan. These bulbs are good for the environment and reduce your energy bills at the same time. They're a win-win product!